Thursday, September 02, 2010

Month of disasters turned into month of miracles

August has usually meant disaster for Kenyans. Even on a personal level my own mother suddenly and very unexpectedly passed on August 20th. One evening she was there and a few hours later she was gone. Founding father and first president of Kenya Jomo “land grabber” Kenyattta died August 22 1978. The list of disasters in the month of August for Kenyans is pretty long and includes the American embassy bombing in Nairobi in August 7th 1998 and the death of former Vice President Kijana Wamalwa on 23rd August 2003.

But this August 2010 was very different. Mighty different!!

I will continue with images from Kenya's KATIBA day in August over the next few days: Here the PM takes the oath of office.

Powerful forces behind the scenes including the president’s own close advisors not to mention his intelligence boys were very much against Kenyans getting a new constitution. Hopefully one day Kenyans will get to hear of at least a fraction of the things that went on behind the scenes to frustrate things. But historians will record that in the month of August 2010 miracles happened and Kenyans got a wonderful new constitution, in my view the best in Africa.

By some miracles one Mwai Kibaki who has never been enthusiastic and passionate about anything in his life (even the political fight of his life in 2007) was suddenly deeply passionate about Kenyans passing a new constitution and criss-crossed many different parts of the country campaigning like some youngster rookie president.

As the miracle month approached the end with the many wonderful things that happened, and as most Kenyans pinched themselves to confirm that it was all real and happening, yet another miracle was dropped on their laps. Folks went to bed paying about Kshs 7 per minute for their calls even as the leading mobile phone service in the country was still able to declare obscene profits in the region of 20.9 billion. The next August morning Kenya suddenly woke up to Kshs 3 per minute to all networks and short text messages to all networks was at a mere shilling. Zain the company that introduced these rates told Kenyans that this was NOT an offer but a more permanent rate structure. As you read this Kenyans are paying as little as 2 shillings for Safaricom to Safaricom calls (which is an offer as the company thinks of what else to do to keep its’ obscene profits).


Why the number of Somalis in Kenya exploded
By Guest writer

Early this year, rumours had it that the number of Somalis in Kenya have increased substantially. And that the results for the census that was carried last year were cancelled because of this. Actually, this story appeared in one of the tabloids in Kenya - The Star. Now, the results are out; Oparanya officially announced the Kenya Census 2009 results on 31st August, 2010.

Seems like they are not rumours anymore; the population of Somalis in Kenya which was just under a million in 1999 has more than doubled in just a decade and now stands at about 2.4 million. Is that possible? Yes and no. The new figures for the Somalis would not be possible if you base your analysis on natural growth alone, i.e. the net difference between births and deaths. But, there are many ‘non-natural’ reasons that could increase the population of a community.

Thus the question here is; what could have caused the exponential growth of the Somalis in Kenya? In my opinion there are many reasons underlying this seemingly doubtful growth rate that have nothing to do with immigration. And that the growth rate in essence could be a true reflection of the Somali population in Kenya. Therefore, these reasons include, but are not limited to, the following; changes in method of data collection and analysis, and changes in the pattern of intra-country migration – notably from nomadic to sedentary lifestyles. Other reasons could include inaccuracies, either deliberate or accidental, in the base population from which we found our previous assumptions. If, for example, the earlier census was not properly conducted or the results intentionally distorted, both of these would have an effect on the validity of our base population i.e. 1989, 1999 etc.

I know for sure the method of calculating Somalis in Kenya has changed. This, by sheer happenstance, I came to learn while a student at a certain college in Nairobi when we were given some assignments part of which entailed getting some figures from the census book. A friend of mine, he was a Turkana, decided for some reasons to compare the Somali population in Kenya to his community’s. He was shocked when he realized that the Somalis were indeed much fewer than the Turkanas. When I went back to the library with him, I was stunned too. The Somalis were divided into clans and each clan listed separately. Only a tiny minority were listed as Somalis. I later explained to my friend that the Degodias, Gurres, Ajurans and Ogadens he was seeing were actually Somali clans and not some distinct communities.

Why they decided to enumerate the Somalis in that manner is something that I have never understood. Now, if indeed the ‘Somali’ population, as listed in the 1989 census, was much lower than the Turkanas in Kenya, would the KNBS also be basing their analysis on inaccurate figures? Wasn’t it also easy for the guys behind these evil machinations to push the figures for the Somalis downwards? I have this feeling they not only could do that but they did. Why they did it is something that we would probably need to ponder on, for a long time to come.

Secondly, the Somalis in Kenya are predominantly nomads. We also know that the region mostly inhabited by these people has suffered from perennial drought and famine. This, I know for a fact, pushed many nomads to a sedentary lifestyle. Some of my relatives currently living in Garissa can attest to that. Also, it is only possible for government officials to enumerate settled residents. I thus, do not believe that the census clerks can exhaustively count nomadic tribesmen wandering in the expansive arid northeast, especially, when the census exercise is carried within a relatively short period of time. Therefore, the fact that many people now live in the urban centres in North-Eastern would definitely affect the number of Kenyan Somalis and of course push their numbers upwards.

Thirdly, and slightly related to the previous point is that the enumerators could have done a brilliant job this time round. I have a feeling that with each subsequent census the sophistication of the whole exercise improves. And this would have a positive effect on the census. Therefore, this would most likely increase the population of a community and in this case the Somalis who usually were not counted would effectively be captured by the census clerks.

Fourthly, I have this feeling that someone somewhere has some vendetta against the Somalis. I say this because it was only early this year when we heard that there would be some audit of Somali owned properties in the city. I am convinced that someone, reeling from the failure of the anti terrorism bill fail to go through, wants to pass the same through the backdoor. Thus as Kenyans we need to be careful about this shadowy figures.

Conversely, the argument that immigration, too, has something to do with the increase of the Somalis could be true. And, in the case that this is true then the government should be held responsible for that. How, for example, should Kenyan Somalis be held accountable for the corruption condoned by the government? If any non Kenyan Somali has illegally obtained Kenyan citizenship then I doubt whether their accumulated numbers could exceed a few thousands. Thus, I doubt this last point could substantially increase the number of Somalis.
Lastly, most of the above would also be true for the Turkanas whose numbers have also been questioned. Or, is this some clever way of justifying the imminent downward revision of the number of Somalis in Kenya? By making it appear as though it’s not just Kenyan Somalis they have a problem with? Anyway, I pray that sooner rather than later we will come to bottom of all this.

Question for Kumekucha readers to ponder:
Recent developments point to increased pressures to charge for quality content on the web and even at times on TV where it has mostly been free. And so is the future in TV services like DirectTV in the Americas Caribbean etc. and DSTV closer to home? What are your views? Would love some feedback in the comments area below.

40 comments:

  1. Sizi ma Somali banaharamiwa sana! Na Serikali wariah! Banaka na amani! Hapana miraa! Pege yake.

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  2. Raila looks like a clown with that usher sash...and yes he swore to the president.

    Iko wapi phil of kibera to tell us how that was possible...

    bwa ha ha ha haaa

    About somali's, what do you expect when you put a thief as the minister in charge of migration? F#$% moron!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. But historians will record that in the month of August 2010 miracles happened and Kenyans got a wonderful new constitution, in my view the best in Africa.

    By some miracles one Mwai Kibaki ... was suddenly deeply passionate about Kenyans passing a new constitution and criss-crossed many different parts of the country campaigning like some youngster rookie president.

    xxx

    Psychopolitics, psychopolitics and psychopolitics.

    Have you ever wondered why WOMEN smoke today in public? They were told a cigarette is a TORCH OF LIBERTY. They believed it. Ask any woman why she smokes and she has no clue.

    What do they have to show after a century of smoking? We answer. Depleted pockets and cancer.

    See how things are done here at least for 1st 12 minutes:

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6718420906413643126#

    ReplyDelete
  4. Why is the somali article hidden under another post? Dont you have confidence in what you want to put forward on the somali question?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have said many times that Immigration should be controlled to the fullest. We simply can't allow everyone to FLOOD in Nairobi which is already strained to the fullest by a huge population explosion. You can tell this from endless traffic jams, water scarcity and high crime and unemployment.

    Many Kenyans like myself don't have a problem with the local Kenyan born and bred Somalis, they are our good brothers and neighbours. The problem is the influx of illegal Somalis mostly immigrants from the failed state called Somalia who have faked their way into the system, period! In fact there should be a complete audit of all the IDs issued to all foreigners especially Somalis in the last 10 years.

    I know that there is a lot of chaos and strife in Somalia, but refugees fleeing that madness must be welcomed in refugee camps not already congested cities like Nairobi, then whisked back to rebuild their nation when there's some peace. Let's follow the example of TZ and UG who screen the refugees thoroughly since some could be members of Al-Shabaab sleeper cells waiting for instructions to strike various interests and targets.

    Kenya is a great country and we host nearly 1 million refugees from neighbouring countries like DRC, Rwanda, S.Sudan etc but who are mostly in manageable numbers. Kenya has also invested heavily in peace efforts in Somalia and S.Sudan, so our Govt deserves some credit for that.

    The resentment from other Kenyans seem to be from thousands of Somalis SWARMING IN DAILY then investing lots of billions from piracy in Kenya, hence pushing housing markets through the roof in places like South C where ordinary folks now have to move out. They beat the system by using proxies. The question is this, where are these billions being invested by some foreigners especially in real estate where I work coming from?

    Kenyans are feeling overwhelmed by their trooping/swarming in and taking over. When do we say OK, we have given refuge to enough Somali brothers, time for TZ, Ethiopia, UG to also take some?

    If the Somali refugees want to live and invest in Kenya, I have no problem as long as their numbers are manageable and controllable. There must be a cap on the numbers otherwise tempers may start flaring as we accommodate them.

    I refuse the falsehood that's it's fine to open our borders to every Tom, Dick and Harry. But those allowed in MUST also register with the Immigration dept so that we keep proper records of who is coming to our country. Our Immigration laws must be respected and upheld.

    As I said, We should be proud as Kenyans and mostly CHRISTIANS for our efforts in helping Somalis who are mostly MUSLIMS, but they should also be seen to be doing something about their country because it's now been over 2 decades since their senseless clan based wars began.

    Foreigners FLOODING in, buying all estates, demolishing houses and erecting mega mosques in a predominantly Christian nation can cause resentment and that's precisely what is happening in Kenya!

    Waving Al Shabaab flag while CHANTING Arabic slogans and shooting our police will not add you any admirers, will it? (As they did outside Jamia Mosque earlier this years to a point of ordinary Kenyans joining the riot police to help them quell the riots)

    It doesn't help when nearly all their MPs are living large in Kenya's 5 star hotels as their country burns to ash. In fact, why not also put a cap on the number of visits they are allowed so they can concentrate on fixing their land?

    By fixing Somalia, they shall have brought back the rule of law, human smuggling, fixed a huge percentage of piracy in Indian Ocean, flow of illegal guns in Kenya, peace in the region and the suffering of their innocent citizens.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't understand this Chris!

    I thought he said he will NEVER do another article about Somalis??

    Don't you like to eat your words, you smug, eh?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Chocolate Bar9/3/10, 2:58 AM

    You should ask, what is happening to Jaluo population? They were once the second largest ethnic group after Kikuyus (post independence era), now they are 4th after the kalenjins.

    This indeed is worrying and need to be invistigated ASAP

    ReplyDelete
  8. The article's borrowed from one Sadik Abdulahi (wadeer news website) not written by Kumekucha. Mpesa you have argued all the arguments eloquently so there is no need to rehash.

    The only thing I urge fellow Kenyans is we need to be vigilant. Read what Somali websites say about our country, our history, and our future & you may be shocked. Blogs are a good source as you get a feel of the mindset (especially from reader comments). Articles that have drawn interest were Nation's '82 coup (Moi saved by Maj Gen Mahmoud Mohamed), Kibaki saved by Gen Ali (PEV) & the 2009 census results.

    Reference to "black Kenyans" as "kaffirs" who are easily bought are rampant. There's a lot of glee on how KE will be taken over. Somalia never denounced its hope of annexing NEP to create Greater Somalia so beware.

    Bobby6Killer

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  9. Somalis are here to STAY!

    They have been in Kenya for thousand and thousands of years infact they and other Cushites are the REAL indigenous people of East Africa.
    ...And going with that FACT, I am disappointed Somalis are not the largest ethnic group in Kenya.

    Nimesema

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  10. Nimesema

    Correction. Only Somalis of Kenya are here to stay. All 1.4 million of them. The other Somalis from the north star territory are free to come as tourists or visitor's on a valid visa or as genuine refugees to the allocated refugee camps.

    Bobby6Killer

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  11. M.Pesa,

    I did post the Somali article. I am new in the blogging world and I am glad that Chris accepted to post mine. I am a Kenyan Somali. Born in Nakuru but grew up in NEP for the better part of my life.

    As Kenyan Somalis we suffered a lot, both under Kenyatta and Moi. The worst of these atrocities being the infamous Wagalla Massacre which was committed in Wajir in 1984. Another equalling appalling crime committed against the hapless Somalis in Kenya was, in 1989, when the Moi government came up with a screening card specifically meant to flush non – Kenyan Somalis. Mark you; this was before the collapse of the Somali state in 1991. Almost all the people who got deported to Somalia happened to be Kenyan Somalis. Luckily, the Somali constitution recognised their ‘Somaliness’ and had no problem being accepted as Somalia’s Somalis.

    For us, therefore, Kibaki was a Godsend, for he established the ministry of northern development, besides many other achievements under him.

    Nonetheless, all the issues I raised in this article are true. I wrote this article to counter the argument that illegal Somalis are the sole reason why the number of Somalis in Kenya shot up. I fear if this narrative goes unchallenged another screening card will be imposed on us. And the people who will suffer are the poor Kenyan Somalis. Not the super rich non Kenyan Somalis.

    Having said that, I agree with most of the issues you wrote. On the issue of immigration, I think Kenya needs to do better. This is not an indictment of Hon. Kajwang but we do fail in many regards as is shown in this article. Sometimes back I remember reading in the Nation of an Indian who came to Kenya and made it big. He came as menial worker but has since been naturalised, I think his name was Madhubhai or something like that. And, if people can just come to Kenya and work with out permits then the relevant policies need to be enacted to safeguard the little jobs we have for our youth. After all, the unemployment rate is very high.

    Another issue that needs to be tackled is corruption. And not just as it affects the registration of person but the whole enterprise – be it Anglo Fleecing or whatever. I think we need to be like the Chinese, who hang anyone convicted for corruption. This will definitely reduce the number of non-Kenyans acquiring our citizenship. I am glad our laws recognise the need for non Kenyans investors. Thus, the acquisition of work permits should be made easy and attractive for non nationals, including the Somalis from Somalis. Sadly, due to corruption they can’t get the alien certificates, which make them look for Kenyan IDs, instead. At least, this will not bar non – Kenyans and Somalis included to come and invest in Kenya and it will also stop the harassment meted upon them by the police.

    As regards the Somali MPs being in Nairobi, that where our lack of a coherent foreign policy comes in. Ethiopia, interestingly, scores better than us in this issue.
    I am not sure why they even bothered to count the tribes. How, for example, will knowing the number of Kikuyus in a certain county or the number of Muslims in another would help the planning ministry, other that satisfying the ego of some big shots somewhere that theirs is indeed a big tribe? I don’t think knowing the number of a certain community in a certain county would mean increasing the number of health centres, as though people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds utilize social amenities differently.

    I think you also need to tone your almost xenophobic rhetoric down. Immigrants can sometimes be good for our economy. I don’t think the Somali money is entirely from pirates based activities. I will actually challenge you on the establishing the actual proportion of the remittance sent by Kenyans in the Diaspora and how much by the Somalis. I have a feeling non-Kenyan Somalis in the Diaspora are somehow positively contributing to our economy. It’s a hunch and being no economist I can’t prove that.

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  12. Bobby6Killer,

    Kenyan Somalis do not give a damn about what Somalis say. We are Kenyans and have nothing to do with Somalia. Only someone not in his right mind would think of leaving Kenya for Somalia. I think there was some agreement between Kenyatta and Sharmaarke of Somalia regarding this issue. As far as I know Somalia recognizes the territorial integrity of Kenya. I did post that article to, in Wardheernews.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is not an indictment of Hon. Kajwang but we do fail in many regards as is shown in this article.

    http://baqad.blogspot.com/2010/08/foreign-barber-who-worked-in-kenya.html

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  14. i beg to differ. infact passing (promol......) this katiba is the biggest disaster ever. and it had to be in august; trust me its not a concidence.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Baqad

    I stand corrected. I was aware of the Ethiopia/Kenya common defence pact against the Somali threat but was not aware of the Somali/Kenyatta agreement. Also, you are the author of the article posted by Chris (way back in the day when I was in uni we were always reminded to credit your sources..."guest writer" doesn't cut it).

    I've visited your blog & it's clear you have a good head on your shoulders. Your article on the constitutional rights of KE Somalis & Ruto's post-referendum misrepresentation of the intent of those who abstained from voting is spot on.

    I agree with you that diversity afforded by immigration is good but it has to be controlled. You are following legal channels to establish a link with Somalia which is fine by me & is your constitutional right. "Willing buyer, willing seller" in my view enables Somalis to buy anywhere in KE but I think mechanisms should be in place to determine funds are legitimately raised. My concerns on the spike in NEP population I aired on the Nyanza double tax thread still stand.

    Bobby6Killer

    ReplyDelete
  16. "Willing buyer, willing seller" in my view enables Somalis to buy anywhere in KE but I think mechanisms should be in place to determine funds are legitimately raised.

    xxx

    “Once upon a time a famous pirate prisoner was brought in front of Alexander the Great. Alexander asked him:’Why do you infest the seas with so much audacity and freedom?’.

    The pirate ( A Somali pirate) answered:’ For the same reason because you infest the earth (Western Military); but because I do it with a little ship, I’m called pirate; because you do it with a big fleet you’re called emperor’”.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Baqd.

    Karibu sana. You wrote:

    "I think you also need to tone your almost xenophobic rhetoric down."

    I'm not a racist or tribalist. I love Somalis, be they local or from Somalia. But I love Kenya more. It's true that we Kenyans have an obligation to assist those fleeing persecution regardless of where they come from. But how many can we manage to assist especially if they are living here illegally and using the scarce resource available?

    For over 20 years, Kenyans have done more than enough to help Somalis and deep down they know it. Maybe we are becoming sick and tired after all that time and we are bound to ask, what the heck are they doing themselves to restore back their country from hurtling to hell?

    I think we are doing the right thing to discuss this highly emotive and sensitive issue that sometimes ignite passions. Even KTN's own Jicho Pevu has been illuminating this issue all this week. And some of us talking loudest about it are labelled racists, xenophobic blah blah blah.

    What makes this issue even more complex is that we don't have much in common with the hundreds of thousands of these illegal aliens from Somalia who are hence very difficult to integrate with. Be their languages, religion or culture.

    We really don't have a proper clue of how many come in or even leave daily or even their backgrounds since they are illegals, never having been screened.

    And we also know it's not the whole of Somali that is in chaos. Some of these bogus asylum seekers come from peaceful areas that are relatively stable and that's why many are scared of being screened.

    So it's not far fetched to assume some of them could have been involved in killings and bombings in their own country.

    For your info, you really can't blame them much. The biggest blame squarely lies on our corrupt, clueless and incompetent Govt that readily issues ID cards to any illegal alien waving the biggest wad of cash. One day after the face of this country is altered for good as a result of "open door" policy, I hope all the bogus IDs issued shall be revoked.

    About the local Kenyan Somalis being discriminated, massacred by the Govt, I think every tribe here can also tell you some very touching stories about how the Mzungu blitzed them during colonial era.

    Some will even tell you Moi tried hard to ethnically cleanse them and deliberately killed their coffee industries etc. Some will tell you they held demos over a "stolen" election and got shot in their hundreds by the GSU. I think it's about time we reflected and moved on. Wallowing in self pity won't accomplish much.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Bobby6Killer

    Thanks for the flatter.

    There was an MOU mediated by Kenneth Kaunda between Kenyatta and President Sharmarke and PM Egal of Somalia, in 1967. Siyad Barre would later abolish that. Regardless, as I said before, we are Kenyans and do not want anything to do with a failed state.

    Saw your other comments but just ponder over this; Kenyan Somalis 2.3 million – NEP population 2.3 million. Who is fooling who? I thought we had more Somalis in Eastleigh than Garissa – the biggest town in NEP. Or those ones have now been assimilated? The number of non – Somalis in NEP can be offset by the Somalis strewn all over the country.

    M.Pesa

    Nashukuru.

    “What makes this issue even more complex is that we don't have much in common with the hundreds of thousands of these illegal aliens from Somalia who are hence very difficult to integrate with. Be their languages, religion or culture.”

    As far as I know the British for some evil reason decided to gift Kenya with a part of the Somali nation. The independence government thus fought for the territorial integrity of ‘Kenya’ – a conglomerate of tribes dubiously patched together into nationhood by some evil whites. However, the ‘Kenyan Somalis’ (I am glad this is the newest lexicon in Kenya courtesy of one Oparanya) have since accepted their Kenyaness. Thus, the Somalis from the failed state have no option but visit their brothers in Kenya. And we have to welcome them with both hands. Now, if Kenyatta had let NEP join Somalia would Kenya be experiencing a Somali problem? Anyway, I am a Kenyan and proud to be one and I don’t have to speak you language or adopt your religion to be one. Even the Leakeys and Mo Amin (can’t think of other prominent Kenyans of European and Asian descent) are Kenyans and are of a different colour. Luckily we have one of the most ‘progressive’ constitution in the continent if not the world.

    “For your info, you really can't blame them much. The biggest blame squarely lies on our corrupt, clueless and incompetent Govt that readily issues ID cards to any illegal alien waving the biggest wad of cash. One day after the face of this country is altered for good as a result of "open door" policy, I hope all the bogus IDs issued shall be revoked.”

    Exactly, that’s why I am advocating for the checking of corruption and impunity lest we also go the Somali way. All I want, just like you, are strong institutions and coherent foreign policy.

    “About the local Kenyan Somalis being discriminated, massacred by the Govt, I think every tribe here can also tell you some very touching stories about how the Mzungu blitzed them during colonial era.”

    I am not just lamenting about an historical injustice but an imminent one like the 1989 screening of Kenyan Somalia. A whole two years before the arrival of the first Somali refugees in the country.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Bobby6Killer

    Thanks for the flatter.

    There was an MOU mediated by Kenneth Kaunda between Kenyatta and President Sharmarke and PM Egal of Somalia, in 1967. Siyad Barre would later abolish that. Regardless, as I said before, we are Kenyans and do not want anything to do with a failed state.

    Saw your other comments but just ponder over this; Kenyan Somalis 2.3 million – NEP population 2.3 million. Who is fooling who? I thought we had more Somalis in Eastleigh than Garissa – the biggest town in NEP. Or those ones have now been assimilated? The number of non – Somalis in NEP can be offset by the Somalis strewn all over the country.

    M.Pesa

    Nashukuru.

    “What makes this issue even more complex is that we don't have much in common with the hundreds of thousands of these illegal aliens from Somalia who are hence very difficult to integrate with. Be their languages, religion or culture.”

    As far as I know the British for some evil reason decided to gift Kenya with a part of the Somali nation. The independence government thus fought for the territorial integrity of ‘Kenya’ – a conglomerate of tribes dubiously patched together into nationhood by some evil whites. However, the ‘Kenyan Somalis’ (I am glad this is the newest lexicon in Kenya courtesy of one Oparanya) have since accepted their Kenyaness. Thus, the Somalis from the failed state have no option but visit their brothers in Kenya. And we have to welcome them with both hands. Now, if Kenyatta had let NEP join Somalia would Kenya be experiencing a Somali problem? Anyway, I am a Kenyan and proud to be one and I don’t have to speak you language or adopt your religion to be one. Even the Leakeys and Mo Amin (can’t think of other prominent Kenyans of European and Asian descent) are Kenyans and are of a different colour. Luckily we have one of the most ‘progressive’ constitution in the continent if not the world.

    “For your info, you really can't blame them much. The biggest blame squarely lies on our corrupt, clueless and incompetent Govt that readily issues ID cards to any illegal alien waving the biggest wad of cash. One day after the face of this country is altered for good as a result of "open door" policy, I hope all the bogus IDs issued shall be revoked.”

    Exactly, that’s why I am advocating for the checking of corruption and impunity lest we also go the Somali way. All I want, just like you, are strong institutions and coherent foreign policy.

    “About the local Kenyan Somalis being discriminated, massacred by the Govt, I think every tribe here can also tell you some very touching stories about how the Mzungu blitzed them during colonial era.”

    I am not just lamenting about an historical injustice but an imminent one like the 1989 screening of Kenyan Somalia. A whole two years before the arrival of the first Somali refugees in the country.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Bobby6Killer

    Thanks for the flatter.

    There was an MOU mediated by Kenneth Kaunda between Kenyatta and President Sharmarke and PM Egal of Somalia, in 1967. Siyad Barre would later abolish that. Regardless, as I said before, we are Kenyans and do not want anything to do with a failed state.

    Saw your other comments but just ponder over this; Kenyan Somalis 2.3 million – NEP population 2.3 million. Who is fooling who? I thought we had more Somalis in Eastleigh than Garissa – the biggest town in NEP. Or those ones have now been assimilated? The number of non – Somalis in NEP can be offset by the Somalis strewn all over the country.

    M.Pesa

    Nashukuru.

    “What makes this issue even more complex is that we don't have much in common with the hundreds of thousands of these illegal aliens from Somalia who are hence very difficult to integrate with. Be their languages, religion or culture.”

    As far as I know the British for some evil reason decided to gift Kenya with a part of the Somali nation. The independence government thus fought for the territorial integrity of ‘Kenya’ – a conglomerate of tribes dubiously patched together into nationhood by some evil whites. However, the ‘Kenyan Somalis’ (I am glad this is the newest lexicon in Kenya courtesy of one Oparanya) have since accepted their Kenyaness. Thus, the Somalis from the failed state have no option but visit their brothers in Kenya. And we have to welcome them with both hands. Now, if Kenyatta had let NEP join Somalia would Kenya be experiencing a Somali problem? Anyway, I am a Kenyan and proud to be one and I don’t have to speak you language or adopt your religion to be one. Even the Leakeys and Mo Amin (can’t think of other prominent Kenyans of European and Asian descent) are Kenyans and are of a different colour. Luckily we have one of the most ‘progressive’ constitution in the continent if not the world.

    “For your info, you really can't blame them much. The biggest blame squarely lies on our corrupt, clueless and incompetent Govt that readily issues ID cards to any illegal alien waving the biggest wad of cash. One day after the face of this country is altered for good as a result of "open door" policy, I hope all the bogus IDs issued shall be revoked.”

    Exactly, that’s why I am advocating for the checking of corruption and impunity lest we also go the Somali way. All I want, just like you, are strong institutions and coherent foreign policy.

    “About the local Kenyan Somalis being discriminated, massacred by the Govt, I think every tribe here can also tell you some very touching stories about how the Mzungu blitzed them during colonial era.”

    I am not just lamenting about an historical injustice but an imminent one like the 1989 screening of Kenyan Somalia. A whole two years before the arrival of the first Somali refugees in the country.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Forgive my lousy connection.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Mwarang'ethe
    I hear you. Afterall it's very clear who the largest terror state on earth is. Sadly they weild a big stick so the rest of the world cowtows. When you can afford to misplace $2.3 & a further $1 trillion before you sack the pentagon comptroller, you have serious clout.

    Badaq
    Oparanya made a big mistake. Why nullify 8 districts & then include the anomalous figures in the grand total? The 38,610,097 total is a lie. They should not have had all that fanfare until AFTER the followup census in NEP & Turukana respectively.

    That said, there were also allegations of enumerators being bribed. Why is it that NEP was the only province granted the right to ask for forms to fill in (& actually get them, 3 times!)? Some enumerators are said to still be receiving 2nd salaries from Somalis to this day.

    Kenyatta did the right thing to object to Greater Somalia. How could a leader worth his salt lose 1/5 of national territory without a fight? KE lost mt. kili because it was bequeathed to Queen Victoria's German cousin's birthday. The Brits hoodwinked Somalia & left us all with imaginary borders we have to live with.

    Bobby6Killer

    ReplyDelete
  23. Chris,
    As i told you last week(and i know you doubted me but you are forgiven because what is happening in this country is bigger than any one single individual) many people i meet nowadays are telling me how more and more this country is starting to feel like and resemble the one and only great united states of America. Though delayed by about a decade, our own "Obama" is coming in 2012...watch this space for more information. what more remains except for Kenya to change its name to America?A new constitution,Ksh 3 per minute phone calls across all networks,the unique release of a census conducted over a year ago with disputable figures etc. the list goes on and on

    First of all i my condolences to the memory of your dearly departed mother. i know that if she were alive today she would be proud of her son Chris "if i don't say it then who will" Kumekucha and the important but humble role he has played in contributing to the development of his beloved country through raising the profile of blogs as a medium through which the voice of the ordinary masses could be heard

    Even this blog has begun to be more American like in its tone and reflection of views. Mature level headed debate about the future of the country takes place without NSIS or Porn posters or Kioko BCs. Truly Kenya has been reborn

    ReplyDelete
  24. King Nebuchadnezzar9/3/10, 8:38 AM

    I fail to understand why this Christopher "Chris" aka Kumekucha is so excited about this "new" Constitution.

    Is it because of the 2 acres land, or the killing of innocent unborn babies, the regional senators and governors, or legalisation of homosexuality in form of Human rights?... I don't get it!
    I have said it before, this supposedly "new dawn" aka Katiba Mpya is deeply flawed and only time will tell...

    ReplyDelete
  25. There is an important lesson to be learnt here.

    I have written several articles about the Somalis. And In all of them I have failed to grasp the plight of our local Somalis. The situation they find themeselves in as millions of foreigners stream in through their territory. And NOT just any foreigners, their genuine relatives. People who shielded them many years back when they themselves were kicked out of Kenya by the Kenyatta government. I have done my own research and what our brother says is true.

    PHEW!!! And all this time my simplistic solution was just kick out the Somalis. BUT which Somalis?

    My sincere apologies to our Somali brothers for my insensitivity in my earlier articles.

    Now having said that I have no doubt that our Somali brothers realize that we have a very serious security problem in our hands. Any suggestions how to tackle it?

    Kumekucha

    ReplyDelete
  26. Luka my brother (aka US Ambasssador to Kenya),
    I had not seen your lengthy comment.

    Maybe you can explain some of the historical facts that will lose many new kumekucha readers like the Kioko guy from BC

    Hehehehehehehe

    ReplyDelete
  27. Now having said that I have no doubt that our Somali brothers realize that we have a very serious security problem in our hands. Any suggestions how to tackle it?

    xxx

    Your assumption is that, the Somalis pose a security threat to us. We are afraid, they DO NOT.

    The security threat is "OUR FRIEND" the USA. Many are yet to realise this SIMPLE TRUTH.

    Here, we again provide irrefutable EVIDENCE of what we are saying. Sometimes ago, we saw a bloody "terrorist" attack in Mumbai India where 166 people died.

    We were told these were "Islamic terrorists." However, the truth is that, the ring leader of these bloody attack on innocent Indians was a CIA ASSET, a Mr David Coleman Headley.

    Please read the rest of these details here:

    http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LC23Df03.html

    ReplyDelete
  28. Seems this site has problems accepting full links. Please search under these terms:

    A spy unsettles US-India ties

    by By M K Bhadrakumar as reported by Asian Times on Mar. 23, 2010.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Mwarangethe,

    Some help with those long links.

    Just go paste them at:-

    http://is.gd

    It will shorten the link for you and make life easier for everybody.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anon 2.21 a.m. Seems you are always filled with bile.

    The somali influx started in 1991 after the fall of Siad Bare's government if you have been following events keenly.

    But I can understand your level of thinking...Muratina Major.

    Bwa ha ha haaaa

    ReplyDelete
  31. The solution to the somali problem does not lie in sending them back to somalia. That is counter productive and futile. The US has had the problem of illegal immigrants for a long time but it has never resorted to expelling them (I mean the whole 12+ million of them) infact it's a very sensitive issue and a point that politicians toil with giving many assurances in pre-election campaigns only to renege on them once in office.

    The thing is this, these people share a language and looks to our very own Somali's so when you embark on that exercise of hunting them down you are only causing untold suffering to our brothers and sisters. Kenyan-born somalis are part and parcel of our great republic and we should not at any point discriminate against them, if it was not for them would we have a very able person in charge of IIEC or the PSC?

    The Kenya of tomorrow needs the input of everyone currently residing in Kenya.

    The way I think we should do this is that in the coming up with a raft of laws to functionalize the new immigration laws (citizenship etc), we should give asylum to all foreigners who have been in Kenya illegally (Somalis) included so long as they pay a penalty for being in the country illegally. Ofcourse the penalty should not be punitive. By so doing, we will require all illegal immigrants to register within a period of say 6 months after which anyone found here without proper documents will only blame himself. Then a database of all recent immigrants can be kept and added to the tally of all Kenyans.

    Now, the penalties that will be paid can be used to fund a branch in the police to be responsible for border protection so that we don't have more illegal entrants. Also a branch should be set up to specifically deal with issues of threats of terrorism from within Kenya, their mission will be to gather intelligence and follow leads.

    Another requirement will be that the illegal immigrants will have to learn Kishwahili and English and intergrate in our society, pay taxes etc

    Sources of money which it's alleged is piracy can easy be tracked now that the anti-money laundering bill was actalized and this and being able to track the recipients will make this idea DEAD.

    Any thoughts people?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous said...
    The solution to the somali problem does not lie in sending them back to somalia. That is counter productive and futile. The US has had the problem of illegal immigrants for a long time but it has never resorted to expelling them (I mean the whole 12+ million of them) infact it's a very sensitive issue and a point that politicians toil with giving many assurances in pre-election campaigns only to renege on them once in office.

    xxx

    Illegal migration and immigration from low wage nations is good for super class.

    It helps drive WAGES down for the middle class in the USA etc.

    Don't you guys get the "rules" of this game? We are in midst of a class war, but, it will not be televised.

    xxx

    Sources of money which it's alleged is piracy can easy be tracked now that the anti-money laundering bill was actalized and this and being able to track the recipients will make this idea DEAD.

    Any thoughts people?

    xxx

    What piracy? The OWNER/S of these "piracy" acts are known. Africans need to appreciate GEOPOLITICS.

    The idea of laundering money bill is a sick joke. If we do not have such money, how the hell will we "save" our too big to fail banks"?

    "Drug money saved banks in global crisis, claims UN advisor."

    @http://is.gd/eTPzo

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sawa Mwarangethe

    When it comes to money issues I have to admit I give you the bigs, am just a mere chemist. Maybe when it comes to formulating policies in line with industrializing Kenya I am game as I can for instance say that I don't think we can industrialize without nuclear energy. I can also authoritatively say we cannot do it without an iron and steel industry, all which need massive energy to operate, but you have to agree the Somali problem will not be solved by driving or expelling them, we need to intergrate them.

    On the money laundering bill, I concur, so why can't we turn Kenya into an offshore banking center similar to the Cayman Islands.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Chris

    “Now having said that I have no doubt that our Somali brothers realize that we have a very serious security problem in our hands. Any suggestions how to tackle it?”

    The answer as Anon says is not by expelling anybody. Rather we need to take a very long and good at ourselves. Is our house in clean and in order? And the answer is a big NO. Recently, a friend of mine witnessed at JKIA someone bribing an official so as to have their supposedly dangerous goods go in with them. Just for some KES 500 someone was endangering the lives of hundreds. Sadly, that was not an isolated case. The same gets replicated everywhere in the republic everyday and in every sector. That happens to be our greatest undoing. It is for this reason that some shadowy Armenians could come and be Assistant Commissioners of Police overnight. Yeah, as long as impunity and corruption is the order of the day, the ‘smaller shots’ would do as the big shots do. Anyway, I am optimistic that Lumumba would be doing something and that the clean start of the Judiciary would also help in the fight against corruption. I believe once the big shots are dealt with, the smaller guys would tow the line.

    Anon

    I agree with everything you. Some of these laws I think exist already. However, implementation is a problem, which makes it hard for the law abiding non citizens to have the necessary documents that will ultimately naturalize them. This, thus, makes people to look for shortcuts. And what a better way of beating the same than getting the real damned thing – ID? So yeah we need to tame corruption once again. You will be surprised that it currently is easier for some non citizens to acquire citizenship in Kenya than genuine Kenyan born Somalis. Take the case of my brother and a number of Kenyan Somali youth in NEP. They just can’t get this ID thing. My brother had to wait for several years even despite the fact the our father was in the army from the 70s.

    We also need to strengthen our institutions. What, for example does the NSIS do, other than the good salaries (by Kenyan standards) to its employees? And the KRA needs to make sure that everyone who is currently living in the country is taxed. How they do that maybe they can ask Mwarang’ethe.

    Mwareng’ther

    Mambo ya economics I wont even talk about them.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Reading Mwarengethe's articles leaves no doubt in my mind thaat this is a well read dude.

    Aside from spending lots of time reading in some cold library and penning articles for KK - seriously, sio kwa ubaya: does Chris pay you to do all this writing ama you are one of the NSIS idlers lurking in cyberspace?

    Anyway,I realized the guy is after all HUMAN, AND....A MAN.

    Mwarengethe, as a woman I take offense for saying/asking in one of your comments above why women smoke in public. puleeeeeze..kwani who says smoking in public (disgusting to say the least) is a preserve of men? cancer does not discriminate either. My friend, women smoke for the same reason(craving) that men do, so, achana na hizo zako.

    You are indeed proof that being learned does not take away the 'village' mentality from some people.

    Let me guess, in Mwarengethe's house women do not sit on chairs(ever wondered why some women sit on the ground at chief's barazas even when chairs are empty?). In your mind and maybe in your house women cannot eat certain/meaty/tastier parts of the chicken but have to 'fight' over the neck, legs or at best wings?!!

    Society has changed my friend try to keep up.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Society may have changed but some of us have yet to change with the times, let alone keep up with the times.

    Anon 6:11 pm, your patronising attitude toward Mwarang'ethe speaks volumes.

    If I may ask, what makes you believe or think that mature women in Mwareng'ethe's household, or homestead, or community at large value commonly available poultry products like chicken?

    With all due respect to those who value chicken meat so much, please note that women in several other Kenyan communities eat goat's meat, mutton, lamb, seafood, and beef products.

    While domesticated birds like chicken, pigeons and turkeys are a dietary reserve for children, teenagers and some young adults.

    NB Chicken has never been among the priceless dietary commodities, or a special dish in some communities.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Powerful Force vs. United Voices of the Majority:

    Thank goodness that the united voices and pro new constitution forces won the day, while the so called "powerful forces" were humbled by reality and their agenda was never allowed to prevail.

    On the brighter side, let it be noted that their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren's children will end up benefiting from the new constitution.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Mwai Kibaki's Timely Role in the New Constitution:

    Failure to deliver the new constitution would have amounted to a monumental disaster for Mwai Kibaki and company had they not ceased the golden opportunity and capitalized on the historic moment by helping steer the new constitution process at full tilt to cope with the people's demand for real change.

    Hate him or like him, the man will be immortalized for his role in final stages of the new constitution.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Raila Odinga's Top Hat:

    What was the political significance if any, in Raila Odinga's choice of a top hat for the ceremonial occasion?

    Was there any political motif or ideological symbolism that is characteristic of the top hat as seen in the photograph? Or was it a fashion accessory deemed fit for the historic occasion?
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Zain's Modus Operandi:

    Where there is fair business competition, the more it benefits the clientele.

    Hope network providers like Zain will continue to win more customers, while at the same time develop into a more successful network than the others that are still fleecing the general public.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    ReplyDelete
  38. @ anon 2:22,
    That is precisely the issue with the "Somali problem". They do not integrate. We may "hate" each other's guts here in KE & duke it out even on cyberspace as you see on Kumekucha but one thing is certain, most ethnic groups in KE are integrating (read inter-marrying) which is a good thing. Even RAO welcomed a lass from the house of Mumbi after the PEV. We need to "Kenyanize" by breaking down these ethnic barriers.

    Also there is no such thing as border security. All borders are porous & the Somalis who know ancient grazing routes can easily walk into KE & do not expire in the drylands like some hapless Mexican "wetbacks" do in American desserts.

    With a Muslim population of 4m, the Somalia portion is a staggering 54%. Add in the trickling immigrants from the north who are less educated but still have a superiority complex to the "kaffirs" of the south, you will end up with a highly radicalized jihadist Muslim population in KE. The destruction of CBD by worshipers from Jamia mosque earlier this year is just an appetizer of things to come. Don't forget even Baqad conceded that Siad Bare "unsigned" the agreement with Kenyatta that ended the call for a Greater Somalia. It's a silent invasion folks.

    Bobby6Killer

    ReplyDelete
  39. anon @ 8:23,

    i only used chicken for illustration purposes. Feel free to replace it with whatever delicacy your community values. Truth is, in many communities it was considered a taboo for women to partake of the 'prime cut' of whatever animal you fancied. Point am making is - women were and in some cases still considered inferior to men. Kweli Urongo? Thankfully,society is gradually accepting the fact that women are equal to men in many aspects -wanna join the train before it leaves the station?
    For that, mwarengeth'es use of the smoking in public example is...... hogwash.

    ReplyDelete
  40. First my apologies to M.Pesa, I didn't imply you are xenophobic but meant your statements can easily be misconstrued as xenophobic.

    Bobby6killer

    "It's a silent invasion folks."

    On the contrary it isn't. Some guys are just in their country.

    ReplyDelete

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